Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Volunteering Sparks Hometown Pride

Greenville High School graduates, (from L to R) Amy Barger, Brealyn Eckstein, and Sean Wolfe ­ volunteered with Main Street Greenville this summer

GREENVILLE, Ohio ­ 2013 Main Street Greenville Volunteers, Sean Wolfe and Brealyn Eckstein, share with us their stories of why they chose to volunteer with the organization this summer and how it has changed their view on the community they grew up in.

Sean Wolfe:

Just over three years ago, I walked across the stage on Harmon Field decked in my white cap and gown with so much drive and excitement to move forward that tears filled my eyes. I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, but I was certain that staying in this small, sleepy town just was not for me. I had a craving to make the world a better place, and much like other young people, that place wasn’t the uneventful town I grew up in. I left for college, I spent a summer in Chicago for an internship that allowed me to travel across the U.S. and I lived curiously and spontaneously because that’s what 20 ­somethings are “supposed” to do.

With the idea in mind that there was nothing to do in Greenville while I was growing up, I promised myself that I would never move back, whether it be for a job or to one day raise a family. Nope. Never. It’s funny how quickly plans can change though, as I’ve spent the summer living in Greenville and have loved every single second of the role I’ve played here.


While trying to think of the words to describe my experience with Main Street Greenville, this quote came to mind immediately.
Kent Nerburn once shared a short story that quickly took off across the web. He ended it with this statement:
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments, but great moments often catch us unaware ­beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
Within this short time, I have become passionate about my hometown, its people and what we have built here. I’ve fallen in love with the simple, yet beautiful moments, traits and even the flaws that make us unique. The truth is, we have a town full of character and history that others try to create but often fall short of. I live with so much drive and passion because this town has shaped me into that kind of person. I value kindness and warm­heartedness because I have been raised by parents, teachers and with friends who also value good character.

Often times, I think we just expect that good things happen out of thin air. In reality though, it is the people who care enough to try to make changes and improvements that make good things happen. Growing up, I looked past the good instead of trying to join those who were making a difference, but here I am just a few years later working beside people who want to create extraordinary events, programs and service projects that will ultimately unite this small, quaint town of ours. These are skills and that I can take anywhere into my future endeavors, but I only could have acquired them right here in Greenville, Ohio.

In less than a year, I’ll graduate once again with a drive and excitement to start something new. I don’t know where life will take me, but I can say I would not be discontent if lifebrought me back to the small town that I fell in love with this summer.


Brealyn Eckstein:

Once I graduated high school, I moved to Muncie, Indiana to pursue photography. There’s honestly not a big difference between Muncie and Greenville - besides a mall and some restaurants. Muncie even has its own little downtown.

It’s funny though how much I actually started to appreciate home once I moved away from it, even being somewhere similar. Every time I come back I am overwhelmed with this sense of community and how adorable our downtown is. So many places get run down, but our community makes sure that our cute little downtown is an exception. Every time I bring some friends home with me from
college they are just as amazed at how wonderful Greenville.

I didn’t think I could appreciate my hometown any more than I already did, but then came Main Street Greenville. It’s amazing how much a community can do if everyone is passionate and determined. So much goes on behind the scenes to make our town what it is, and it warms my heart so much to see the amount of people who donate their time just to keep this place wonderful for generations to come.

I decided to participate with Main Street Greenville because I wanted to be a part of something doing wonderful things for my community. My favorite part of working with Main Street is letting my creative juices flow - to come up with, and promote fun activities to get people out and enjoying Greenville. It’s almost like we’re trying to encourage people to fall in love with Greenville all over again or fall in love for the first time and I absolutely love that.


The 2013 Main Street Greenville volunteer interns are thrilled to present This is Main Street ­ A Photography Exhibit on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at The Bistro Off Broadway (117 E. Fifth St.).

This is Main Street will serve as a final project to be used as a portfolio piece for interns, Amy Barger, Brealyn Eckstein and Sean Wolfe from their Main Street Greenville internship experience. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the new Main Street Greenville Executive Director, Amber Garrett.

This event will serve as a fundraiser for Main Street Greenville, a non­profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization, historic preservation, and economic growth in Historic Downtown Greenville. Guests who attend This is Main Street will have the opportunity to purchase dinner and drinks at The Bistro (tickets aren’t required to enjoy dinner with The Bisto during the event), with 10% of each bill going toward Main Street Greenville. Additionally, all photos displayed will be available for purchase with proceeds going back to the organization.

Tickets for This is Main Street are $7 (children 12 & under are free) and are available for purchase before the event online at www.regonline.com/thisismainstreet or at various downtown businesses including, AAA, The A&B Coffee & Cake Co., Hallmark, Montage and Boutique on Broadway. We hope you can join us to support the creativity of three young people who chose to give back to their
community this summer!

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